On the move / Shelly Anderson looks at what's changed since the Hurricanes hoisted the Cup

Deals, signings 'n' stuff

October 4, 2006 12:00 AM

Change of scenery:

Vancouver and Florida make a blockbuster trade just before the draft, the key figures being winger Todd Bertuzzi, right, going to the Panthers and goaltender Roberto Luongo joining Vancouver.

Bertuzzi should benefit from a fresh start in the opposite corner of North America. Luongo, big and skilled, seems like a good pick-up, but perhaps he has noticed the way the Canucks chew up and spit out goaltenders.

Heat is on: Rugged but skilled defenseman Ed Jovanovski became one of the first to change teams in free agency this summer, signing with Phoenix.

A former first overall draft pick, Jovanovski is a great addition to the Coyotes, but could feel a lot of heat if they miss the playoffs again.

The Kings get one of the game's best blueliners, and Pronger gets to distance himself from ugly rumors about his reason for wanting out of Edmonton.

Makeup deal: Boston signed free agent Zdeno Chara, a big part of the reason Ottawa has been so good on defense.

No, it still doesn't make up for the Bruins shipping Joe Thornton to San Jose.

No reunion: Late in the preseason, Carolina traded defenseman Jack Johnson to Los Angeles.

So much for the rumors of the Hurricanes shipping Johnson to the Penguins for first-round draft pick Jordan Staal in an effort to unite brothers Jordan and Eric Staal.

Trickle-down policy: The International Ice Hockey Federation, USA Hockey, Hockey Canada, the American Hockey League, the East Coast Hockey League, the Western Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League have instituted or plan to institute the new rules and enforcement adopted by the NHL last season.

Finally, a trickle-down policy that makes sense. The crackdown on interference and the like and the renewed emphasis on offense make hockey the game it should be.

So there is a little sanity on the Island. It's about time. Nolan was a former Jack Adams Trophy winner as NHL coach of the year who was inexplicably run out of Buffalo and blackballed from coaching for eight years before he had success at the junior level.

Market strategy: In January, the NHL will unveil redesigned uniforms at the Eastern Conference-Western Conference All-Star game in Dallas. Hey, the league has to make up for its lack of a big-dollar television contract somehow, so why not by marketing new-look jerseys?